Hammer.



Patented Apr. 9, l90l. L. P. GAGNON.

HAMMER.

(Applicatiofi filed Sept. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.) w

m: vionms PETERS an. vuo'nrumm WAS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS P. GAGNON, OF WILLIMANSETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

HAMMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,821, dated April 9, 1901.

Application filed september 11, 1899. Serial No. 730,082. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,LoU1s P. GAGNON, asubject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Willimansett, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hammers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to woodworking and other similar hammers, the object being to provide an improved hammer-head having a nail-guard thereon and improved means for uniting the hammer-handle and the head, whereby provision is made for tightening the engagement of the said head and handle when they become loose by use or from unusual dryness of the latter; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of said head and in improved means for locking the hammer head and handle one to the other, all as hereinafter fully described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of the handle and of the head of a hammer, showing in side elevation head and handle uniting devices, all constructed and arranged according to my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 of portions of the hammer head and handle and also of portions of the devices uniting the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the head and handle uniting wedge. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an elastic cushion attached to the hammer-head, as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the head of the hammer, having the forward projection or nail-guard O thereon above the face of the hammer. A transverse dovetail-shaped rib D is provided on the said head, on which may be carried the rubber cushion E, extending across the head at the rear side of the handle-socket J, one of the usual nail-drawing claws being shown in Fig. 1. The nail-guard 0, rubber cushion E, and rib D are located in such relation to each other that after the handle has been drawn backward in pulling a nail the nail-guard 0 serves as an additional ful' crum upon which the hammer turns, and hence enables longer nails to be drawn than could be done if the nail-guard 0 were not used. While the nail-guard G has one distinctive function of its own, yet it cooperates in connection with the rib D and cushion E, as above described.

The handle B of the hammer is bored longitudinally from end to end, as shown, and at the extremity thereof, at the outer side of the head A, a V-shaped socket K (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) is formed. The adjustable means for uniting said head and handle consist of the metal rod H, having a nut F screwed to one end thereof,as shown, (a washerz being placed under said nut,) and also having the headless wedge I rigidly welded or otherwise secured on the opposite end thereof. The said V- shaped socket K and said wedge I are of such relative forms and dimensions that when the handle is first placed in the hammer the outer or larger end of-the wedge will be either flush with the outer end of the handle or slightly beyond said end, as shown in Fig. l. The said wedge is not made with a flange-like head, it to bear against the outer end of the handle to limit its movement into the handle for tightening the same from time to time; but it is headless, as shown, to the end that it shall be free to be drawn into the end of said handle, more or less, as occasion may require for the aforesaid tightening purpose, thereby being capable of so acting at any desired point between the opposite extremities of the handlesocket to drive by its wedge form parts of said handle within said socket against the walls of the latter. I

The illustration in Fig. 1 shows the relative positions of the hammer-claws and the head of a nail on to be drawn, the claws resting upon aplane surface W, which represents the side of a board from which said nail is to be drawn, and at the same time said rubber cushion E, which constitutes a yielding soft fulcrum for the hammer, prevents any defacement of the wood when a nail is drawn.

It will be seen that said nail-guard C, if the hammer in striking at a nail be drawn so far back as to miss the nail, will be caused to strike the nail and prevent the force of the blow from defacing the wood into which the nail is being driven.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A hammer having a dovetail rib or projection D extending transversely-across its face, combined with a rubber cushion E which being nade semicircular, combined with the is placed thereon, the cushion being provided nail-guard C also extending transversely withadovetail-shapedgroovein itsinnerside across the face of the hammer and located and being made semicircular upon its outer upon the opposite side of the opening through 5 surface, substantially as shown. which the handle passes, substantially as set 15 2. A hammer provided with a dove'tailforth. shaped groove upon its outer surface and LOUIS P. GAGNON. which extends transversely across the face of Witnesses: the hammer, and the rubber cushion E,plac,e d H. A. OHAPIN,

10 upon the rib, the outer surface of the cushion K. I. CLEMONS. 

